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AZERBAIJANI FM: ARMENIAN POSITION PREVENTS ACHIEVING PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH (UPDATE-2)
Trend
March 2 2012
Azerbaijan
Armenia's unconstructive position prevents achieving a progress in
negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov said.
"Despite the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts, we cannot make progress,"
Mammadyarov said addressing the Third Forum of the OIC member
countries' "Think Tanks".
He stressed that the co-chair countries presented new basic principles
and Azerbaijan has accepted them as a good basis to start work to
achieve a peace agreement that will lead to great stability and a
progress in the negotiation process.
"The Armenian side refused to accept the updated principles. After
all the efforts we can not achieve a progress in negotiations, and
it sometimes happens because of the unconstructive position of the
Armenian side, which tries to preserve the existing status quo in the
region and does not agree with the terms to withdraw its troops from
Azerbaijani territories," Mammadyarov said.
He said the conditions are quite simple - all recognize that the
presence of foreign troops on the territory of another state is
absolutely unacceptable, progress should be achieved step-by-step
and the first step should be the withdrawal of Armenian troops from
the occupied territories.
"We were able to establish good relations with our neighbors, but
the unresolved conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh impedes
the region's steady development," Mammadyarov said.
UN resolutions call for the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Azerbaijan's occupied territories and the return of refugees to their
homeland, he underlined.
"But, unfortunately, we can not achieve the fulfillment of these
resolutions. This sometimes causes questions about double standards.
Some resolutions of the UN Security Council are fulfilled next day or
within a week, however, the resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh have not
been fulfilled yet, while all recognize that Azerbaijani territory is
under occupation and population was subjected to ethnic cleansing,"
Mammadyarov said.
He stressed that it is very difficult and sensitive topic.
"We believe that we should make every effort to make progress in
the negotiations for the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Azerbaijani territories and the return of our IDPs back to their
homeland," Mammadyarov underscored.
Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan recognises that the withdrawal of
Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories is not the end of the
conflict resolution and it is necessary to determine the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh to complete the process.
"It will be possible to open communications which are now completely
destroyed, build roads and railways after the Armenian troops are
withdrawn from Azerbaijani territory," he underlined.
Exchanges of fire are observed on the frontline periodically, but all
agree that these cases happen because Azerbaijan has foreign troops
on its territory, Mammadyarov said.
"According to the UN Charter, there are internationally recognised
legal norms in accordance with which we can use all means to liberate
our territories from the illegal presence of foreign troops and
restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Resolutions of the UN and other organisations including the OIC clearly
reflect the requirement to restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity,"
Mammadyarov said.
The conflicting parties should create an opportunity, including an
economic one, so that refugees and IDPs could return to their homes,
Mammadyarov said.
"If there is no stability, then it is necessary to create at least
predictability in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he stressed.
This year is an election year in all three co-chair countries and in
addition elections are expected in Armenia and therefore a difficult
time to negotiate, Mammadyarov said.
"This year will be difficult enough, but we ask our partners to
use this situation not to slow down peace negotiations and reaching
agreement, but for greater understanding, particularly between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh through
building confidence," he underscored.
Mammadyarov said the logic of Azerbaijani is simple - no one can take
its people and run away from the neighbours.
"The history of mankind shows that building dividing walls is not
good. It is counterproductive and like it or not, one should take
its neighbours into account which clearly helps to steadily develop
not only the economy, but also society," Mammadyarov said.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict sides should make progress for
the mutual benefit of the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples.
"I believe that we will achieve this through the Islamic world
that supports our just position. I believe that the only problem in
the development of Azerbaijan is the resolution of this conflict,"
Mammadyarov said.
Trend
March 2 2012
Azerbaijan
Armenia's unconstructive position prevents achieving a progress in
negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov said.
"Despite the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts, we cannot make progress,"
Mammadyarov said addressing the Third Forum of the OIC member
countries' "Think Tanks".
He stressed that the co-chair countries presented new basic principles
and Azerbaijan has accepted them as a good basis to start work to
achieve a peace agreement that will lead to great stability and a
progress in the negotiation process.
"The Armenian side refused to accept the updated principles. After
all the efforts we can not achieve a progress in negotiations, and
it sometimes happens because of the unconstructive position of the
Armenian side, which tries to preserve the existing status quo in the
region and does not agree with the terms to withdraw its troops from
Azerbaijani territories," Mammadyarov said.
He said the conditions are quite simple - all recognize that the
presence of foreign troops on the territory of another state is
absolutely unacceptable, progress should be achieved step-by-step
and the first step should be the withdrawal of Armenian troops from
the occupied territories.
"We were able to establish good relations with our neighbors, but
the unresolved conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh impedes
the region's steady development," Mammadyarov said.
UN resolutions call for the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Azerbaijan's occupied territories and the return of refugees to their
homeland, he underlined.
"But, unfortunately, we can not achieve the fulfillment of these
resolutions. This sometimes causes questions about double standards.
Some resolutions of the UN Security Council are fulfilled next day or
within a week, however, the resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh have not
been fulfilled yet, while all recognize that Azerbaijani territory is
under occupation and population was subjected to ethnic cleansing,"
Mammadyarov said.
He stressed that it is very difficult and sensitive topic.
"We believe that we should make every effort to make progress in
the negotiations for the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Azerbaijani territories and the return of our IDPs back to their
homeland," Mammadyarov underscored.
Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan recognises that the withdrawal of
Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories is not the end of the
conflict resolution and it is necessary to determine the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh to complete the process.
"It will be possible to open communications which are now completely
destroyed, build roads and railways after the Armenian troops are
withdrawn from Azerbaijani territory," he underlined.
Exchanges of fire are observed on the frontline periodically, but all
agree that these cases happen because Azerbaijan has foreign troops
on its territory, Mammadyarov said.
"According to the UN Charter, there are internationally recognised
legal norms in accordance with which we can use all means to liberate
our territories from the illegal presence of foreign troops and
restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Resolutions of the UN and other organisations including the OIC clearly
reflect the requirement to restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity,"
Mammadyarov said.
The conflicting parties should create an opportunity, including an
economic one, so that refugees and IDPs could return to their homes,
Mammadyarov said.
"If there is no stability, then it is necessary to create at least
predictability in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he stressed.
This year is an election year in all three co-chair countries and in
addition elections are expected in Armenia and therefore a difficult
time to negotiate, Mammadyarov said.
"This year will be difficult enough, but we ask our partners to
use this situation not to slow down peace negotiations and reaching
agreement, but for greater understanding, particularly between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh through
building confidence," he underscored.
Mammadyarov said the logic of Azerbaijani is simple - no one can take
its people and run away from the neighbours.
"The history of mankind shows that building dividing walls is not
good. It is counterproductive and like it or not, one should take
its neighbours into account which clearly helps to steadily develop
not only the economy, but also society," Mammadyarov said.
He said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict sides should make progress for
the mutual benefit of the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples.
"I believe that we will achieve this through the Islamic world
that supports our just position. I believe that the only problem in
the development of Azerbaijan is the resolution of this conflict,"
Mammadyarov said.